Nemanja Vidic gave Manchester United a boost when he came through an hour playing for a second-string side in a pre-season friendly.

The defender missed the tour of Australia and the Far East with a back complaint but the Serbian managed to play 62 minutes at Gresty Road in a 2-0 victory over Crewe tonight.

Vidic sat out the club’s tour with what United described as ‘a touch of sciatica’. He was out of action for almost a year in 2012 with a knee injury and was carefully managed by former manager Sir Alex Ferguson.